Buffalo Bills News - September 26, 2003

Eagles' Defense Enduring Growing Pains [5:06 AM]Comcast Sportsnet reports:
'The Eagles' offense hasn't done anything to pick up the slack. In the first two games, the offense has been on the field an average of 22 minutes and 53 seconds, meaning the shorthanded defense has played just over 37 minutes per game. Only the Bears' defense has been on the field longer.'

DeLamielleure credits roots [5:05 AM]Detroit Free Press reports:
'"I was a hard player, not a hard worker," said DeLamielleure, who was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame last month. "I loved playing, but I always felt lucky."'

'D' Expects Bills Aerial Attack [5:04 AM]PhiladelphiaEagles.com reports:
'Said defensive coordinator Jim Johnson: "I wouldn't imagine they'd run. I think they're going to stay with the vertical passing game. They want to go deep. I think they would like to run the ball better. We'll see if they can, but I think their philosophy is to get the ball deep." Bledsoe's main target is the dangerous Eric Moulds, who has 13 receptions for 244 yards this season.'

September 25, 2003

Bledsoe vows again to stop forcing passes [9:25 PM]AP reports:
'''For Drew it's tough because he's a competitor,'' Moulds said. ''Maybe he should've thrown that ball away. But his competitive nature took over and he tried to zip it in there.'''

Eagles need a win in Buffalo to avoid 0-3 start [9:24 PM]The Sports Network reports:
'The Eagles are 10-4 after bye weeks. Reid owns a 21-2 mark when his club leads in time of possession and 30-4 record when his team scores 20 or more points.'

Bills' Henry expects to play Sunday [9:23 PM]The Sports Network reports:
'The Bills held Henry out of practice again on Thursday and head coach Gregg Williams stated his desire to have Henry test the injury during Friday's practice. It is, however, possible that Henry might play without practicing this week.'

Oh Henry! [9:22 PM]The Sports Network reports:
'"We're all in this together and for us to be successful I need to be on the football field. A lot of guys depend on me and I'm doing everything I can to get back out there."'

Bills Games Played On September 28 [9:21 PM]BuffaloBills.com reports:
'A virtuoso running performance by O.J. Simpson led Buffalo to a startlingly easy 30-21 victory over Super Bowl champion Pittsburgh. In what many observers called Simpson's best day ever, the Juice ran around and through the vaunted Steeler defense for 227 yards, including an 88-yard touchdown jaunt in the third quarter that put Buffalo on top 23-0.'

Kannapolis' Maddox picked up by Bills [2:14 PM]Salisbury Post reports:
'Maddox was twice named the Associated Press Player of the Year for North Carolina and was a consensus choice as the nation's best high school running back his senior year.'

Bills-Eagles Game Sold Out [1:29 PM]BuffaloBills.com reports:
'The Bills-Eagles game this Sunday at Ralph Wilson Stadium is sold out and will be televised locally.'

Bills Coach Gregg Williams Previews Philadelphia [1:28 PM]BuffaloBills.com reports:
'"Right now Burns will take the snaps. We're going to continue to go on the fact that Travis will be ready to go. Joe Burns will take the significant share of snaps. We have a practice squad guy, (Ken) Simonton, that's done well with us. He'll take some snaps too in practice. But Joe will take the bulk of the snaps."'

Quarterback Drew Bledsoe Previews Philadelphia [1:27 PM]BuffaloBills.com reports:
'"Joe Burns came in and played well for us last week when Travis (Henry) was out. Injuries are a part of this game. That's the way it is. If a guy goes down then the next guy has to step up and play for us. It's unfortunate that that's part of life and this game. If you're going to continue to win in this league you have to have guys step up when injuries happen. Every team that goes through a season is going to deal with some injuries. The teams that are able to deal with those missing players the best are the teams that ultimately win most consistently."'

Whiting expected back next week [1:27 PM]phillyBurbs.com reports:
'The other injured Eagles - cornerback Bobby Taylor, defensive end Jerome McDougle and safety Brian Dawkins - won't play Sunday. Taylor's out with a foot injury, McDougle with an ankle and Dawkins with a foot.'

Turnaround must start with McNabb [1:26 PM]phillyBurbs.com reports:
'From East Rutherford to Irving, Texas, from his first season as an NFL starting quarterback until now, this has been the mark of Donovan McNabb: It didn't bother him. Every time he had to, every time the Eagles needed him, he reaffirmed his resiliency. They need him now more than ever, one more time.'

Eagles' big plays have been sparse so far [1:25 PM]phillyBurbs.com reports:
'We'll start by defining big plays as turnovers, sacks, offensive plays or punt returns of 20 yards more or kick returns of 40 yards or more. Through two games, the Eagles have seven. Their opponents have 24. Which says it all.'

'Backs In Rush To Get Going [1:24 PM]PhiladelphiaEagles.com reports:
'"I'm licking my chops to go after any team, not just Buffalo," said Buckhalter, who has just one rushing attempt this season. "Whatever team I am facing up against every week, I am licking my chops to get the ball and run at them."'

Everyone has an opinion on McNabb [1:02 PM]Olean Times Herald reports:
'“I play football because I love the game. I try to prepare to be the best at what I do. I never let anything put me off-course from what my goals are. I never let anybody tell me what I can’t do. Boos are just minor (distractions), it’s a motivation process that everyone goes through as an athlete and the way to overcome it is to go out and execute.”'

If opportunity knocks, Burns plans to run with it [8:54 AM]Buffalo News reports:
'"I love running between the tackles," Burns said. "I love power football. That's what drives me. I love contact. I want to go and hit it in there and try to get what I can."'

Injuries to three starters dilute Eagles' defense [8:52 AM]Buffalo News reports:
'Last year, the Eagles ranked fourth in the NFL in yards allowed and second in points allowed. They were ninth against the run and seventh against the pass. This year, the Eagles defense played pretty well in the 17-0 loss to Tampa Bay. It yielded 255 passing yards to Tom Brady in a 31-10 loss to New England in Week Two.'

Set formula determines schedule [8:51 AM]Buffalo News reports:
'So the Bills play the AFC South this year and again in 2006. They face the NFC East this year and again in 2007.'

Bills' Henry says injury won't stop him [5:30 AM]Rochester D&C reports:
'“It’s real important to me. We’re all in this together, and for us to be successful I need to be on the football field. And a lot of guys depend on me, so I’m doing everything I can to be out there.”'

Clements takes his pick [5:29 AM]Rochester D&C reports:
'With three interceptions in three games, Clements is tied for the NFL lead with seven other players heading into Sunday’s home game against the Philadelphia Eagles and struggling quarterback Donovan McNabb. Clements’ hot start makes chasing records one of the enjoyable byproducts of winning. The Bills are 2-1 but are regrouping after last Sunday’s 17-7 loss in Miami, a game in which Clements had two interceptions, one he returned 54 yards for a touchdown for Buffalo’s only points.'

Bledsoe looks to regain form [5:28 AM]Toronto Sun reports:
'"A big part of our game on offence is the trust that (coaches) have in me to make the right decisions," Bledsoe said. "If somebody's not open, I have to get rid of the ball. "Last week, the red-zone interception was ... one that should have been thrown to the back of the end zone. "It was an extremely poor decision by me that I don't intend to repeat."'

Wheel falls off Bills' bandwagon [5:27 AM]Toronto Star reports:
'Tunnel vision and his reluctance to throw the ball out of bounds are two shortcomings that have plagued Bledsoe his entire career.'

McNabb takes leave of the heat [5:26 AM]Philadelphia Inquirer reports:
'"I've watched all phases - the ups and the downs of the past couple of years," McNabb said. "You watch some of the ups, obviously to get some positive input, and you look at some of the downs and try to figure out how you were able to overcome the downs. If it was fundamentals, technique, whatever. You try to regain some positive output just by watching some things that happened great for you in the past couple of years."'

Bills' Bledsoe knows from McNabb's woes [5:25 AM]Philadelphia Inquirer reports:
'"Every quarterback who's ever played in this league for more than a game or two has gone through some times where they've struggled," Bledsoe, whose 2-1 Buffalo Bills host the Eagles on Sunday, said yesterday. "The things that have to happen, that I'm sure will happen with Donovan, is that you have to bounce back, you have to look at what you've been doing and come out and play well. We're just hopeful he waits a week to do it."'

The road has been kind to the Birds [5:24 AM]Philadelphia Inquirer reports:
'The team's 18-6 road record over the previous three seasons is the best in the NFL, and they are 7-1 on the road following a loss since the 2000 season.'